Continuing from last post, I will record my competition day story here. Overall, It was good experience for me to join this event despite insufficient preparation time. I will share my experience also here so that this post will help other people to join the competition first time especially for foreigners.
Competition venue
Competition venue for Thailand Southern Bodybuilding Championships was at Central Phuket Floresta in Phuket town. At the competition day, I walked to the venue from my hostel about 3km. On the way I bought rice, 4 eggs, snickers and Halibo for carb loading before competition but this was not enough. I should have purchased more in advance, actually I was so hungry since I ate up all my food before going on stage.
At first, I went to Jetts fitness Phuket in adjust building to measure my weight. I confirmed that my weight as 73kg only, it can pass below 75kg so I took rice 165g and 4 egg white for breakfast meal. It was lucky that my franchise gym is located near competition place. There was not locker room nor backstage near show space so I could use locker in gym to keep my valuables.
Time schedule of competition day
Below is the time schedule of competition day 1. Day 2 schedule is also same but only for category held is different.
- 09.00 – 10.00 Registration
- 10.00 – 10.30 Rules and Regulations assemble
- 10.30 – 12.00 Weight in
- 12.00 – 13.00 Lunch
- 12.30 – 13.00 Warming up
- 13.00 – 16.00 Pre judging for the first 9 categories
- Men’s Athletic Physique up to 170 Cm.
- Men’s Athletic Physique up to 175 Cm.
- Men’s Athletic Physique Over 175 Cm.
- Men’s Bodybuilding Master age 45 years and above
- Men’s Fitness Physique Open
- Women’s Fitness Physique Open
- Men’s Sport Physique up to 170 cm
- Men’s Sport Physique up to 175 cm
- Men’s Sport Physique Over 175 cm
- 18.00 – 18.30 Opening Ceremony
- 18.30 – 21.00 Final Round for the first 9 categories
- Men’s Athletic Physique up to 170 cm
- Men’s Athletic Physique up to 175 cm
- Men’s Athletic Physique Over 175 cm
- Men’s Bodybuilding Master age 45 years and above
- Men’s Fitness Physique Open
- Women’s Fitness Physique Open
- Men’s Sport Physique up to 170 Cm.
- Men’s Sport Physique up to 175 Cm.
- Men’s Sport Physique Over 175 Cm
09.00 – 10.00 Registration
Around 9:30, I headed for competition place from Jetts. Shopping mall is still closed so I asked security staff how to enter the building for registration.
Mall still closed at 9am.
Walking on escalator to reach 3rd floor.
At the end of 3rd floor in front of food court, I found event stage and audience seats. I thought game was held in event hall but actually it was just a event space inside shopping mall.
Food court areas invaded by full of Macho guys, hahaha.
Showing passport and vaccination record, I have to sign on the registration paper. In my class, Men’s Sport Physique up to 175 cm, total 12 persons’ name was listed on the document but actually only 9 participants competed on the day. Other person seemed no show since there is no registration fee nor penalty for not coming. Event staff told me that over 175cm class has only 4 persons so if I joined this class , I could be automatically top 5 finalist to be awarded, 555. Well, that’s good but I cannot extend my height in few hours, hahaha.
This is what I got from registration desk. Event pass for athlete and one supporter for each participants.
Discount coupon can be used in food court in the mall, haha.
And face shield which you need to wear on the stage. Don’t forget to remove plastic film on both side.
Next to registration counter, there is staff selling some necessary items for competition such as tanning oil, bodybuilding pants and roller for paint.
They sell 2 types of tanning oil, 700THB and 900THB. Staff told me one bottle of 700THB is enough for one person so I got this by cash.
700THB tanning oil which I got. I used half of full contents for the show. I should have kept this for another competition but unfortunately I forgot in the restroom of Jetts fitness after the competition. On next day, I come back to the gym but I just knew that cleaning staff already threw away it, haha.
Dream tan is 900THB.
10.00 – 10.30 Rules and Regulations assemble
All athletes come near the stage to listen to rules and regulation of competition. I thought they prepared for English explanation also for foreigners but actually NOT. All explanation session will be conducted in Thai language only so I pretended to understand but actually just sat on the chair for 30 minutes, haha.
Other guys are listening very well.
10.30 – 12.00 Weight in
Next is weight in process. Before this you have to wear competition attire. I didn’t wear it so I changed my wear in the toilet. competitors will be called by each class following schedule. For foreigners like me, so as not to miss your turn, be stand by the staff to announce the order and appeal to the person to call you when your turn come. All program is conducted in Thai language only but staff is kind enough to support a few of foreigners like me. They will escort you time by time.
My class competitors are called.
Weight in will be done in parking lot outside. Staff will measure your height and weight to check the eligibility. After you pass, you can choose any plate then find your number to show up. At this moment, staff told me that I have to shave my legs and arms so after the weight-in, I purchased shaver in supermarket then shaved in the rest room of Jetts fitness.
My number 29! Attach number plate to left upper side on your pants.
About one hour before going to stage, you have to put oil on the body.
I also bought this in Mr. DIY to put tanning lotion on the body. Only 19THB, haha.
Coconut juice for carb up support.
Around 12:30 pm, I came back with shaved skin, haha. At parking lot area, athletic Physique class athletes are already putting oil on their body and pumping up for stage show up!
13.00 – 16.00 Pre judging for the first 9 categories
First class lines up for the stage!
Posing session of first class.
I was looking around to see other competitors in my class to know how they prepare before going to the stage. At this time, we still have much time so no one seems started preparation both for oil painting and pumping up.
Each class has only less than 10 people on average, it takes 20 to 30 minutes to proceed each category for pre judging. I estimated my turn comes in an hour when Fitness Physique open class began, 2 category before my group. Then, I went out to parking lot to prepare for myself. At parking lot, I tried to put tanning oil but I totally do not know how to put on the skin. Other guys are all coming as team so they have supporters to help painting. When I am at a loss, supporters for other team offered me to put oil on my skin. They are coming from Narathiwat province. Without them, I really cannot prepare by myself so I would like to show my big appreciation to them. They are not only helping adding oil on skin, but also giving me some advice on the stage for posing and cheering me up.
During Fitness Physique Open is on stage, I came with Narathiwat team to do pump up and check oil condition near door to parking lot. This back stage area is very small, full of preparation stuff and some competitors are sleeping on the floor extending yoga mat.
Be careful not touch mall object with tanned hands.
Next class, Sport physique contestants are warming up at the backstage areas above. When They went to the stage and showing their performance, I also try to see how they do it. At that time, I was shocked that They were doing free posing one by one around one minute on the stage. I thought that on the stage, we are called per 5 persons then show basic 4 poses, front, right side, back and left side. I also confirmed this point with my trainer but OMG, my trainer didn’t understand English well so due to miscommunication, I couldn’t know it until the day. I was panic, as you can imagine beside the stage because I totally do not know how I do free posing. Narathiwat team also tried to teach me how to do some poses but well, my turn comes in 20 minutes! How can I do it!? I really wanted not to enter the stage and go home, haha.
Men’s Sport Physique up to 175 cm
My previous class group show time almost almost comes to end. Our group, 9 fighters are called at the back of stage. I was still panic, but try to calm down myself then do practice as much as possible to do posing on the stage. I talked with other contestant here, he was also shocked that I didn’t know free posing and he tried to teach me some posing. I really appreciate his care but I decided that well If somebody teaches me something in a very last minute, I definitely cannot do it on the stage so what I can do is just show what I know at this moment, I show only simple 4 basic poses on the stage.
My turn came finally, after 7 persons performed, I greeted to judges and audience in Thai way, then moved to the front of the stage. On stage you have one minute. There are three spots on the stage. First, you go on the right side then do some Physique poses around 2-3. then moves to left side for another 2-3 performances. Finally you forward to the center point then show around 3 -5 poses. I was very nervous obviously but actually yes I really enjoyed showing my performance. It might not be good but I felt accomplished some how, it was my one of goal this year that I join the competition.
After free posing for each one, every 5 persons’ number will be called to come up to the front side to show 4 basic poses. All announcement will be conducted by Thai language only but the routine is very simple. You will start from front side then turn right side by 90 degree.
Once 4 poses judgment is done, only 5 persons will be called again to the front side, they are more likely to be selected for top 5 finalist of the day. I was not called. Well actually I was not expected because other guys are huge and well performed on the stage. During top 5 estimated guys did 4 poses again on the front side, I tried not to stop posing to appeal to the judges.
At last, every contestants were directed to line up then we greeted in Thai way. Finally done, everything. I exhaled deeply and felt relieved. Saying thank you to Narathiwat team and staff who supported strange foreigner from Bangkok, I headed fast to Jetts fitness branch, I really wanted to wash out my oil on the body, hahaha.
Aftermath
After cleaning up my body, I had late lunch in Yayoi, my favorite restaurants in Thailand, haha. Around 6pm, I came back to event area just to see final stage of each class to enjoy the show as one of audience. The show was really nice, I enjoyed a lot to see the masterpiece body of each top 5 contender. One day, I will be on that stage, I will work our harder more in 2022 then get awarded as my new year resolution! This time, as I mentioned, I just wanted to join to know how I need to prepare for this event and what I should do. Now I understand all so I am sure that I can do it much much better for next time. I plan to join Thailand master’s game in January 2022. With short time new year holiday, I will restart diet to become leaner for next battle.
Thank you so much for reading my experience of competition in Thailand. I hope readers can feel the atmosphere of event and will help this post when you join!.
Below is some photos that I took for final stage. See ya!
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